Long-time buyers find affordable prices in Netley Park's milestone ram sale
Loyal South East and western Vic buyers ensured Netley Park stud's 30th annual ram sale at Mundulla was a success with an 80 per cent clearance rate.
But they were never stretched far price-wise in their buying.
In the Poll Dorset offering, 42 of 56 rams offered by stud principal Michael King sold for a $1204 average, while 46 of his 55 Border Leicester rams averaged $1221.
Lot 5 in the Poll Dorsets - the heaviest ram in the offering - made the $2000 sale high.
The 96 kilogram ram was sold to Spence Dix & Co director Rodney Dix, buying on behalf of Bergan Park, Keith.
It had a fat depth scan of 6.5mm and eye muscle area of 28 square centimetres according to Stockscan, which Netley Park has long used.
Long-time supporter GL&SM Maddern, Kaniva, Vic, bought eight Poll Dorsets between $800 and $1000, while Egel Partners, Keith, took home seven Poll Dorsets for a $1229 average.
The Williams family, Willswood Farms, Bordertown, secured the $1800 highest priced Border Leicester.
Their top pick - lot 2 - was 72 kilograms and had a EMA of 23sqcm and Stockscan index of 720.
It was one of six rams they bought in the top end of the catalogue for a $1533 average.
The Williams were recently recognised in JBS's Farm Assurance Producer awards as one of the processor's top lamb suppliers, an accolade they have also won previously.
The biggest Border buyer was Treetop Estate, Field, with 18 rams, while WD, RE & NW Robinson, Edenhope, Vic, took home ten rams from $1000 to $1400.
Mr King said it was pleasing to have clients who have supported him for all or nearly all of the 30 sales, as well as retired farmers still taking an interest in his sheep.
"I will keep on keeping on and producing what these guys want," he said.
He said it was not a surprise that buyers were budget conscious, after a lot of money was spent on supplementary feeding earlier in the year.
"A lot of people didn't have great lambing percentages, us included. It would be nice to have more lambs to sell but hopefully we will be rewarded with prices (this year) and in the future," he said.
Spence Dix & Co's Jack Guy, who shared the auctioneering duties with Luke Schreiber, said the strength of the lamb market was giving buyers some much-needed optimism.
He said the Border Leicester market was always hard to predict, but it was clear that buyers were focused on breeding more first-cross ewes.
"With the number of breeding ewes out of the system, people are starting to realise that we are going to need more (first cross ewes) to come back in to create those good second cross lambs," he said.
"They could be worth anything in the sales this year."
